The Art Institute of Dallas Culinary Info Source

2010 Smashing Chili Chowdown

2010-10-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

What: 2010 Smashing Chili Chowdown - A battle for the best chili in Dallas.

When: 12-4 p.m., Sunday, October 17.

Where: Dallas Farmers Market, Shed 4 (Wholesale Produce Building) 1010 S. Pearl, Dallas, TX 75201

Join the festivities and sample chili from 20 different teams featuring local celebrity chefs, culinary school instructors, student culinarians, and fabulous foodies from all over the Dallas area.

Live entertainment will be provided by international musical sensation, Javier Mendoza. Voted “One of Colleges Hottest Artists” for 2009 by Campus Magazine, Javier combines new influences, musical inspirations and life experiences with the common thread of hope for the future. http://www.javiermedoza.com/

Attendees can sample 10 chilies of their choice for $10. They also get to be the judge as their votes will select the People’s Choice Award Winner.

Winners will be announced at 4:30p.m. and include bragging rights plus a cash prize of $500 posthumously named in honor of Werner Vogeli, a chef of distinction who left his indelible mark on the Dallas culinary world both in the kitchen and the classroom.

Proceeds benefit the Texas Chefs Association and Friends of the Dallas Farmers Market.
Come out and show your support!

Art Institute Alumni on Top Chef Season 7

2010-05-18T08:01:00.001-07:00

There is even more reason to watch Season 7 of Top Chef...two Art Institute alumni will be competing for this season's title!

Tiffany Derry, an alum of The Art Institute of Houston, is also the Executive Chef of Go Fish Ocean Club in Dallas. Tiffany is a member of the The Art Institute of Dallas Culinary Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) and has hired several students and graduates from AiDallas over the years. Bio

Tamesha Warren, an alum of The Art Institute of New York City, is the Sous Chef for The Oval Room in Washington, DC. Bio

Show your support of these Art Institute Alumni by tuning in to watch Season 7 of Top Chef beginning June 16th.

Dates...

2010-05-12T13:48:00.001-07:00

Click to enlarge...

Chefs on Fire - May 2, 2010

2010-04-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Dallas Chapter - Chefs on Fire
May 2, 2010
Contact Robert Gillentine at 469.438.6531 for more information.

Friends,
I am participating in Texas Chefs Association‘s 1st Annual “CHEFS ON FIRE”on Sunday, May 2nd and need your support. Help me raise monies for the Parkland Children’s Burn Unit by logging onto http://www.firstgiving.com/vanmeter-robles and sponsor my grilling competition team. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Sharon
“Chefs on Fire”

Dallas Fire-Rescue and Texas Chefs Association are teaming up to host
Chefs on Fire benefiting Parkland’s Burn Center.
Established in 1962, Parkland's Burn Center, the second largest in the United States, provides care that is modeled around the world. The acute care and intensive care units are recognized internationally for providing a source of surgical expertise and rehabilitation to burn survivors of all ages.
This “Community Block Party” features concessions from the area establishments, fire safety education, family friendly activities and the Chefs on Fire grilling competition. Thirty-one teams will compete in this day long competition. Each team will be comprised of one professional chef and one firefighters. Cook-offs will occur throughout the day with the championship cook-off held during the VIP party. The team razing the most funds will automatically qualify for the championship round. Donate to your favorite team now by searching for that team's fundraising page and enter your donation.

WHERE: This “Community Block Party” will be an outdoor
event located in the Knox Street District
at the corners of McKinney Avenue and Armstrong.

WHEN: Sunday, May 2, 2010
11:00 am – 5:00 pm Block Party
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm VIP Party

COST: Community Block Party – FREE & open to the public
VIP Party - $75.00 per ticket
Purchase tickets on this site by clicking the
"register for an event" button located at the top
of the page.

Chef Sharon Van Meter, W.M.C.S.
Executive Director
Milestone Culinary Arts Center
4531 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75205
214-217-2819 work
469-235-7506 cell
214-526-3187 fax

Check our our FACEBOOK page
for the latest news, updates and special offers.

http://tiny.cc/SQWEP

Great Tips for Students and Grads

2010-04-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

10 Job-Search Mistakes of New College Grads
People entering the job market (and all job seekers) should avoid these common errors.
by Charles Purdy, Yahoo! HotJobs

Although this year's college graduates are facing a tough job market (and the smart ones are facing it now, rather than waiting until after graduation), they have an advantage over other job seekers, according to Andy Chan, vice president of career development at Wake Forest University: they are among the age group most likely to be hired in coming months.

"Organizations are very interested in hiring young people because they have a lot of energy and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done," Chan says.
But no matter how well-positioned these young people are, they--and all job seekers--will have a better chance of success if they avoid these common job-hunting mistakes of new college grads:

1. Not being proactive enough: Emily Bennington, the author of "Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job," says, "This isn't the time to sit back and be casual in your approach. Create a hit list of five to ten target companies, and really utilize your network to locate an 'in' at each."

2. Relying solely on the Internet: In a recent Yahoo! HotJobs poll, 57% of respondents said networking was a factor in landing their current or most recent job. Brad Karsh, president of JobBound, says, "When thousands of candidates are applying to the same jobs online and posting their resume to the same job boards, candidates need to stand out by making connections and networking their way into a company." Job boards are an important tool, but Karsh says new grads also need to focus energy on networking.

3. Not creating wide networks: Career expert Liz Ryan agrees: "Use your parents', grandparents', and friends' networks to help you in your post-graduation job search," she says. "Don't be shy--reach out to any long-ago Scoutmaster, choir director, or babysitting or leaf-raking boss. ... There's no statute of limitations on networking." (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective networking.)

4. Not creating customized resumes: Ryan says, "Don't send out any resumes that simply list your courses, the degree you've earned, and your part-time and summer jobs--use this opportunity to make a stronger statement about what you want to do with your adult life." And according to Jay Block, the author of "101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times," younger job seekers often haven't thought about what they have to offer an employer (as opposed to what they want to get from one). With this mindset, they create resumes that are "boring biographies" instead of effective marketing tools. (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about crafting better resumes.)

5. Misusing the Internet: Tory Johnson, CEO of Women For Hire and the author of "Fired to Hired," says, "New grads don't use LinkedIn--it's not sexy like Facebook or Twitter. But it's the best resource for getting names and building a professional identity. Don't overlook it."

6. Failing to follow up: Johnson says, "It's not enough to send resumes and pray the phone rings." She cautions that job seekers can't expect a resume to be discovered in that "big black online hole." "Hustle to follow up," she says.

7. Setting expectations too high: Johnson says new graduates too often focus on looking for the perfect job, instead of a first job: "Especially in this economy, the first job should be about finding a position where you'll learn a great deal, you'll be super busy, and you'll be surrounded by lots of people."

8. Appearing unprofessional: Make sure you're ready for employers' scrutiny, says Tim McIntyre, president and CEO of The Executive Search Group. That means you should "sanitize your MySpace page--right now. It will be checked," he says. He notes that many college students will need to change off-color voicemail greetings. Ryan adds, "Don't assume that Facebook's privacy settings will keep your youthful antics away from curious eyes. Rid your profile page of any photos of the 'three Bs' (beer, bongs, and bikinis)."

9. Not taking the job interview seriously: Even when you're applying for an unpaid internship, you need to adhere to common standards of professionalism. McIntyre says those standards include demonstrating you've done your research on the company and dressing appropriately. Block adds that new grads are often unprepared for tough (but standard) interview questions, such as "Where do you see yourself in three years?" and "What are your weaknesses?" (Read more Yahoo! HotJobs articles about effective interview tactics.)

10. Not using the college's career office: "A career office can help [students] identify networking contacts, learn important job-search skills, and significantly improve their resume and cover letter," says Wake Forest University's Chan. Ryan agrees, but adds that this is just a first step. The career office's job is to "to prepare you for your job search, not to conduct it for you," she says. "Use LinkedIn, reach out to everyone you can, and begin researching employers who'd be likely targets for your job-search."

Career Services Week. April 19-22

2010-04-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Students and Alumni are welcome to attend! Alumni - please RSVP to jjanik@aii.edu

Click on the image to enlarge:

Welcome, New Members!

2010-03-28T08:01:00.001-07:00

As I was browsing the Texas Chefs Association Website, I found that several of our students and VERY recent graduates have been welcomed as NEW MEMBERS! Happily, with the addition of these new members, The Art Institute of Dallas was able to boast more participation than any other school or organization in the Texas Chef's Association

Patricia Hagan

Arthur Manuel

Amber Gray

Ronald Im

Ashala Zami-Ketchum

Jeong Kim

Ashley Moyer

Patricia Hagenbuck

Brittany Ball

Angelica Patrick

Tiffanie Jordan

Ronnie White

Listen Up, People!

2010-03-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

The Art Institutes and The Creative Group have teamed up to create meaningful contnt and relationships that will positively benefit the students of The Art Institutes nationwide.

The podcast series was designed with you in mind by The Art Institutes and http://www.creativegroup.com/. The Career Blueprint Podcasts give you smart, insightful information from those in the know. Why not invest five minutes in yourself and your career? You're worth it!

Click the link below to hear Megan Slabinski, District President of The Creative Group give practical tips on finding early career jobs and internships that are the right fit for you.

Groundfloor Opportunities: Doorways to the Future

FUN BLOG!

2010-03-08T12:30:00.001-08:00

So many bloggers are out in cyberspace, and finding a good blog can be tough. Check out "The Brad's Adventures in Food." Dallas-based Brad Murano touts himself as "addicted to crazy good food," and he documents every last delicious bite on his blog. Click
HERE to read more!

MeetUp.com

2010-02-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about MeetUp?

It is a great online resource to find groups, organizations, happy hours, etc. with people in your industry! MeetUp today!

Culinary Job Fair!

2010-02-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

We are hosting our first-ever Culinary-specific Employment and Externship Fair. This event is open to Culinary students and graduates from The Art Institute of Dallas only, and the jobs range from entry-level to advanced. Employers are already sending in their RSVP forms, and we know that Medical City, Sage Dining Services, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Sodexo), and the illustrious Ritz Carlton will be attending. Click on the image below for more information.

Texas Chefs - Dallas Chapter

2010-02-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

The next meeting for the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association is March 2, 2010. Need more information about time and location? lCall Chef Sharon Van Meter for more information at 214.217.2819 or chefsvm@sbcglobal.net. or Dawn Knowlton at dawn.knowlton@sbcglobal.net.

This chapter meets the first Tuesday of the month at 3 pm, with a student and new member Q&A at 2:00pm. The chapter leadership consists of the following (look for our Alumni and Faculty on this list!):

CHAPTER DIRECTOR
Sharon Van Meter
4531 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75205
214.217.2819 work
chefsvm@sbcglobal.net

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Robert Gillentine
Medical City Dallas, 7777 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas 75230
469.438.6531, Robert.Gillentine@hcahealthcare.com

SECRETARY
Michelle Brown
Collin County Community College District
972.377.1057 work, MEBrown@ccccd.edu

TREASURER
Jack Rayome
Fresh Pasta 2680 Nova, Dallas, TX 75229
972.620.9221 freshpasta@earthlink.net

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Matthew Crowe CC
Northwood Club
214.239.1366 MCrowe@northwoodclub.org

COMMUNITY OUTREACH/CHARITY
Marty Cummins
972.488.8657 mcummins@lemmonsco.com

CERTIFICATION
Kelly Cook CEC, AAC
214.802.8037 kvcook5775@gmail.com

STUDENT CULINARIAN DIRECTOR
Dawn Knowlton
972.742.8082 dawn.knowlton@sbcglobal.net

NACE! Calling all Students...

2010-02-01T12:31:00.001-08:00

Nace is the oldest and largest catering association in the world, encompassing all aspects of the catering industry and dedicated to promoting career success to its members and the professionalism of the industry. NACE is a chapter-based, non-profit membership organization, with 45 chartered local chapters servicing its more than 4,000 members across the country – including nearly 100 student members.

NOW is the time to join as a member! Click on the images below to enlarge. These brochure pages will provide more inforamtion. You can also view the Dallas Chapter of the NACE website HERE. View the National NACE website HERE.

Mark Your Calendar! Job Fair January 26th

2010-01-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

GRAD FEST

2010-01-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

Attention March 2010 Graduates!

Gingerbread Smack-down

2009-12-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to our own Chef Nina Hunter, Pastry Chef Instructor, who won the gingerbread house competition at North Park Mall! Art Institute of Dallas student, Ashley Moyer, also placed third in the competition.

Chef Hunter's creation:

Ashley's award-winning house:

Two students look at the entries:

DMagazine covered the story on its blog and you can read more about it HERE.

Guerrilla Restaurant. Six Months - and It's Gone.

2009-12-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

The owners of Smoke at the Belmont hotel are launching a "guerrilla restaurant" scheduled to be open for only 6 months starting in January. All proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army, the North Texas Food Bank, and the American Red Cross.

The fixed price menu ($70.00 per) will be created by a variety of chefs (names unreleased, as of now), and the restaurant will only be open on Monday and Tuesday evenings for two seatings.

Want to read more?

Smoke Team to Launch Guerrilla Restaurant.

Your Local Farmers Market...

2009-12-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Farmers Market is hosting "Holidays at the Market" December 5, 12, and 19 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
For more information see the DFM website HERE.

Moving a little further north...
The Chestnut Square Farmers Market in McKinney, Texas has posted their winter market dates as well, along with fantastic information about what market-goers can expect:

The Historic Downtown McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square

Winter Market Dates: 11/21/2009, 12/19/2009, 1/30/2010, 2/27/2010

Local and organic meat, dairy and produce vendors will offer their wares from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 P.M. every Saturday during the market season and once a month for the winter market.
Market vendors also offer sauces, pasta, baked goods and flowers! Cafe Malaga will provide breakfast and lunch offerings! Dixie’s Store will be open with Dublin Dr. Pepper, Cokes, lemonade, craft items and old fashioned toys for sale.

The website for Chestnut Square Market is posted HERE. Check it out to find out more information on vendors and seasonal foods being sold at market.

Chili Cook Off!

2009-11-11T14:31:00.000-08:00

The Texas Chefs Association Annual Chili Cook-Off is this Sunday from 10-6 at Greenville & Lovers. Click the image below for more information: